UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN inspectors visited several locations in the suburbs of the Syrian capital in their second-day on-site probe into the latest alleged use of chemical weapons in Damascus, and have not asked for an extension of the 14- day mandate, a UN spokesperson said on Wednesday.
"Today, the chemical weapons investigation team was able to visit several locations in the suburbs of Damascus, including impact sites, where it collected additional information and samples," UN spokesman Farhan Haq said at a news briefing.
The team, led by Swedish scientist Dr. Ake Sellstrom, was able to carry out its work without incident following a suspension in the investigation due to security concerns on Tuesday, he said.
The UN convoy was attacked on Monday by sniper fire while heading to the Damascus suburb of al-Ghouta suspected of being hit by chemical weapons on Aug. 21.
The team, whose 14-day mandate expires this weekend, "had not asked for an extension of that mandate," Haq said.
"The Secretary-General appeals to all sides to allow the Mission to continue its important work," Haq said, adding that the evidence collected on-site by the team "is crucial for its unique ability to establish the facts of the matter in an impartial and fact-based manner."
Calling for adherence to the UN Charter, Ban stressed that "we must pursue all avenues to get the parties to the negotiating table," Haq said.
The UN inspectors arrived in Syria on Aug. 18 to start an investigation into whether chemical weapons have been used in the 29-month-old conflict that has left more than 100,000 dead. They were initially set to probe the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Khan al-Assal town, in the northern province of Aleppo, and two other undisclosed locations.
The team started its mission in eastern al-Ghouta area, a day after the Syrian government granted it access to the site of the attack, which the rebels said was launched by the government forces.
On Aug. 21, the Syrian opposition claimed 1,300 people were killed in a chemical weapon attack carried out by the government army on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus. The Syrian government strongly denied the accusation.
Damascus accused the rebels of being behind the chemical attack in Khan al-Assal and urged the UN to send the investigation team.
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